Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1887-04-01

ioWeo 10 PrvoeeN asSss y, coy. & ~;
been requested by o. Sp 20 scSSoN ~
Superintendent OF thy nos Nc 'ecssPS SS
circumstances would aAI1 40 COY o. %
mitted to pass HaTper's AesN -el- \ SOlp.,eS
had everything been MAE lysSbS NftHl,r
town was not aroused unr Spe \ COY I
when 10 was discovered that ,eaS' -
meht buildings were in pOssessiohSSa band
of insurgents, who, with armed sentinels,
guarded every approach to the town, thus
rendering its inhabitants prisoners. AT
daylight the wOrkmen engaged on the
buildings went as usual to their work and
were made prisoners and confined III a
large building in the yard.
When the true state of affairs became
known, the widest excitement prevailed;
messengers were sent TO the DeighbOring
towns and by noon military companies be-
gan to arrive. A volunteer company COM
manded by Col. Baylor, from Char!estown,
was the first upon the scene. They made
a dash toward the bridge and the lnsur-
gents took refuge in the armory, where
they held the attacking party in check.
Later ON in the day two companies arrived
from Martinsburg, and the arsenal was al
once stormed and the building IN when
the wOrkmen were imprisoned carried. A
desultOry fire was kept up until nlghtiall,
BY which Fontaine Beckham, railroad
agent; Shepherd Hayward, cOlored porter
at the railroad station; Joseph Burley, oil
Harper's Ferry; George Turner, gradu-
ate of West Point, and Evan Dorsey and
George Richardson, of Martinsburg, were
killed. The insurgent dead were Browns
son Oliver, Kagi. his secretary, and VIM.
III. Leeman. Among the prisoners held
by the insurgents were Armistead Ball,
chief draughtsman ut the armory; Benz.
Mills, Master at the ArmOry; j, L. T.
DanyeTfield, Paymaster's Clerk; Lewis
Washington, farmer; and John Allstadt,
farmer, and his son, aged sixteen years.
Brown had taken the precautlon to have
the wires cut, so that the outside world
should not be informed of his proceedings
until he should have firmly established
himself: but late in the evening of the 18th,
messengers bore dispatches beyond the
damage to the wires, and transmitted them
to Baltimore, Washington, Richmond and
other points, at all OF which the lntelll-
gence produced the widest excitement,
and throughout the South it amounted To
almost a reign of terror. Upon its receipt
ut Washington, Colonel Robert +. Lee,
with one hundred United States marines,
was ut once dispatched to the scene OF
action. Upon his arrival, Colonel Lee sent
Lieutenant J. L. Stewart to demand an
unco..- ltiOnal surrender;-Only promising
the insurgents protection from immediate
-. 4 .r,,1 ,,nlar tho civil law
But Brown refused to capltulate on other
terms than these: That they should be
permitted to march out with the n,en and
arms taking their prisoners with them;
that they should proceed unpurSued a
specified distance from the town when
thev would tree their prisoners; the sold
iers would then be permitted to pursue
them and they would fight II they could
not escape. Lieutenant Stewart could not
consent to such terms and an attack was ut
once made, which resulted in the capture
of Brown and several OF his fellows, all OF
whom were forced to surrender ut the point
OF the bayonet.
Brown was so severely wounded that it
was thought that lie would die soon after
being brought out of the armOry, but in
stead. he revived and was removed TO a
room where he received medical aid. Here
on the next day he was visited by Gov
ernOr Henry A. Wise in answer to whose
interrogatOrics, Brown said: Il rented the
Kennedy farm and here ! ordered to be
sent from the East all things required for
my undertaking. The boxes were double,
so no one could suspect the contents OF
them, even the caTteTS engaged IN hauling
them up from the wharf All boxes and
packages were directed 10 j. Smith IL Son.
never had more than twenty-five men
about the place, but | had It
so arranged that | could
arm, at any time, 800 men with the fol-
lowing arms: 29O Sharp's rifles, 2GO May
nard's rcyolycrs, and 1000 spears and
tomahawks. | would have armed the
whites with the rifles and pistols, and the
blacks with the spear, they not being sut-
fcientlv familiar with the other arms.
l had p.sHty OF liked ammunition and
enough provisions, and had good right to
expect the aid of from 1000 TO 5000 men
at any time | wanted. Help was promised
me from Maryland, Kentucky, North and
south Carolina and Canada. The blow
was struck 4 little too soon.
But | only regret that have failed in
my designs; | have no apologies to make
or concessions to ask now"
Brown appeared quite exhausted, and
the Governor on taking his leave told him
he had better be preparing for death, to
which Brown responded, that though the
Governor might live fifteen years he would
have Il good deal to answer Tor ut last, and
that he had better bc making preparations,
too.
THE TRIAL AND EXECUTION.
An indictment, for treason and murder,
was ut once found against Brown, aud he
was closely confined in prison. The case